The Guide to Human Genome will resign as Director of NIH

Francis Collins, the leading geneticist who oversaw virtually every major federal research initiative in the field of genetics for the past 15 years, will bow out as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

The 58-year-old master of genetics will resign on August 1.

Collins led the successful endeavor of the U.S. government to sequence the human genome and helped secure a new law, signed just last week, which calls for barring discrimination based on genetic information.

In 1989, Collins had a hand in the identification of genes linked to cystic fibrosis and in 1993 he helped find those connected to Huntington’s disease. The same year he took over as the head of the National Human Genome Research Institute, from where he made it to White House press conferences, appearing with President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to announce the achievement of the genome's first draft, which classified about 3 billion letters of genetic code.

He is credited for guiding the very substantial, Human Genome Project to completion in 2003.

His exit from NIH raised some speculation which was pacified by Collins as he revealed that he has a book project in mind but no other immediate plans. Collins intends to head into "the white space of unemployment," where he can contemplate his options without brushing up against federal conflict-of-interest rules.

“I am not leaving because of any problems or disagreements with NIH leadership,” Collins said, echoing what NIH insiders had privately put across. Although he acknowledged that budgetary belt-tightening in recent years has been "deeply troublesome," but underlined that money is not a factor.

The president’s signature on the law for genetic bias, made it easier for Collins to depart as that was one issue he had been pursuing for over a decade.

"He has put us where we can now move from the genome to health - to use the fruits of the human genome project to improve the health of American citizens," said Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, president of the American College of Medical Genetics.

Collins said he might explore options in private and public sectors. His place at the NIH will be provisionally filled by deputy director, Alan E. Guttmacher, until a replacement is found.